Capping-machine.



N. M. LA FORTE.

CAPPING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED H1212, 1911.

1 123 559 Panama 52111.5.1915.

L if iii-ga ns UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FORE-BET M. LA FORTE. OF BALTIMORE. MARYLAND, AS15516 230R TO THE CROl/VII C-RK SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE. MARYLAND. A CORPO- L lli ION OF MARYLAND.

merino-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

PatentedJan.5. i915.

llc it known that l. Xonnnn'r M. L.\ Pon'rn, a citizen ot the lnited Stat-es, residing at Baltimore, State of Illanvland, have inented certain new and useful improvements in (apping-Machiues, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part oi the same.

This inventioi'i relates to improvements. in capping machines, that is, machines for applying metal caps to receptacles for the purpose of closing the same.

One ol the objects of theinvention is to produce an improved capping machine in which bottles of varying heights and capacities may be rapidly and accurately presented to the cap applying mechanism, so as to have the caps applied thereto.

ll'ith this and other objects not specifi-. cally referred to in view, the invention consists in certain constructions, and in certain parts, impro ements and combinations as will he hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out.

Referring to the. accompanying drawings--l igure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a front .view of the bottle holder and cap applying head of the machine shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. a sectional View on the line 4- l of 2. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the cap applying head. Fig. 3 is a detail bottom plan view of the bottle holding means.

Referring to the accompanying draw ings which illustrate one embodimentof the invention, 1 indicates a hase having an upright or column 2 thereon. This column, if desired, may be cast integral with the base. I

Machines embodying the invention will be provided with means for supporting the l'QCLllltlCliR while being capped and with cap applying means. Such machines will also include means for producing a relative movement between the capping mechanism and the support, for the purpose of causing the caps to be applied. In the particular machine illustrated, this relative movement is produc ml by mounting the capping head 3 on a reciprocating rod or post 4, the head having an extension, as 5, provlded with an opening through"which the uppe end oi the rod l passes. th two being se ured together by nut. as i. l'hc rod or Purl: 4 passes through a hollow ullmli. or standard T which, in the particular construction shown, is cast in one piece \\ith the stand ard 2. The lower end of this rod or post 4; is connected by a link to a cianl' El, indicated in dotted ll!.( in Fig. 1. thiscrank being formed on the end of a crank-shalt supported in suitable bearings in the base 1. The shaft is provided with a constantly driven flywheel illustrated as driven by a belt 11 from an electric motor 12 mounted on a split bracket 13 supported on the standard A single revolution clutch 14, controlled b a trcadlc ll, is provided, by which the li y-wheel is clutched to and unclutched from the. shaft. Driving mechanism of the character just described is wellknown in the art and any other suitable form of mechanism may be substituted therefor.

The cap applying mechanism may he varied as to its details of construction, but in machines embodying the invention in its best form, it will be so constructed as to provide for minor inequalities in the heights of the receptacles to which the caps are .to be applied. It is wellknown that glassreceptacles even though made in the same mold and intended to be counterparts, will vary somewhat in their vertical dimensions, and inasmuch as the capping mechanism has a constant stroke, there is danger of break ing the receptacles unless some means is provided for taking care of these variations. in the particular construction illustrated, the capping head is provided at its lower part with a hollow bending die 15 having cap holding lingers to, the. die being supported in the capping head by a throat ring lT'tln-cadcd to the lower part of the capping head. This bending die is provided at the top with a shoulder 18 against which rests a spring 19, the other end of the spring resting against a threaded adjusting block in constructions embodying the invention, this spring 19 will. be under an original predetermined cmnprcssion. It will be understood that the bending die shown and described is particularlyadapted for bend ing in the flanges of metal caps of the wellknown crown coil: type. The original pro determlned compressionot the spring Wlll struction ing the bottle. in the construction shown, a

plunger 21 provided, this plunger being backed up by a light spring When a crown has been placed on the supporting; fingers 10, the plunger 21 is forced back a ainst its spring, and as the crown comes into position, the head 22-3 of the plunger 21 holds it against the fingers, thus preventing it from being displaced until it is fairly seated on the. bottle mouth. The particular construction shown also includes a plunger 25 surrounded by a spring 26, the purpose of this plunger being to insure the positive discharge of the capped bottles, in case they do not readily clear themselves from the lending die after the caps have been applied.

Nhile the bottle holding devices may be varied Within Wide limits, in machines which embody the im'ention in its best form, these bottle holding devices will be adapted to snpport'a plurality of bottles of viarying heights and capacities and to bring the diiierent bottles into proper capping relation both vertically and axially respect to the head. In the particular conillustrated, the bottle holding means comprises asleeve, as 30, this sleeve being provided with a plurality of arms 31. The particular machine illustrated is intended for capping bottles which hold a quart, pint, and a half-pint respectively, which, therefore, vary considerably in height. Incrder to bring the different bottles to he capped into properrelation vertically with respect to the capping head, the arms 31 are arranged at varying heights on the sleeve, as shown. Each oi the arms, in the construction illustrated, is provided with a rest, as 32, these rests being secured to the arrns 31 by colts 33, or in any other suitable manner.

The bottle holder should, by its movement, bring the bottle to be capped not only into proper relation vertically with respect to the capping mechanism, but also should properly center it, that is to say, the vertical axis of the bottle to capped should coincide Wit-ll. the vertical axis of the bending the in order to properly apply the cap to the bottle Without clan er of hrealca e. Constructions embodying the invention, there fore, will include snitahle centering means which are rendered effective by the IHOV- ment of the bottle holder. While these contering devices maybe varied, in the particular construction illustrated, each the rests S2 is provided with a centering member 3 these centering members 4: being arranged, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, at varying distances from the center of the support. As the sleeve 30 is rotated, it Will bring the desired bottle into proper position with respect to the capping head, so. that the caps may be a pplied thereto without any further adjustment. For ,111St211108,'1i the machine be employed in capping quart bottles, and it be desired to cap pints or, half-pints, all that it is necessary to do in order to bring the desired bottle into proper capping relation both vertically and axially is to swing the sleeve around to bring the proper support under the capping head.

Means may be pro 'ided for locking the holder, and in the best constructions, these means Will he provided. While the construction of the locking neans may he varied, as shown the standard 7 is "Jroeided (see Fig. l) with a pin 35, and theilower side of the sleeve is provided with ascries of notches 36, the bottom of the sleeve Being beveled off, as indicated at 37 on each side of the notch. The pin 35 is so located that as each of the arms 31 comes into proper position, the corresponding notch 36 will locked.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the invention is carried into eilect. The invention claimed, therefore, is not to he confined to "the particular construction herein described and illustrated. 1

hat is claimed is 1. In a capping machine, the combination ivith a capping head, of a bottle holder coinengage the pin 35 and hold the sleeve prising plurality of bottle support-s hav- 7 ing; their supporting faces in dilferent planes and being thereby adapted to support hottles of widely different sizes, said holder be" ing movable beneath the head, so that a hottie thereon will be properly positioned hoth vertically and diametrically to be capped by the capping head, and means for elfecting a relative capping movement between the holder and the head.

2. In a capping machine, the combination \vitha capping head, of a bottlecholder comprising a plurality of bottle supports having their supporting faces in different planes and being: thereby adapted to support bottles of widely different sizes, said holder being movable beneath the head, so that a bottle thereon will he properly positioned both vertically and diametrically to be capped by the capping head, means for efiecting a relative capping movement between the holder and the head. and means for locking the holder in oi the positions to which it is moved.

In capping machine, the combination with a capping head, of a bottle holder comffjN 1,123,559

ing movable beneath-the head, so that a loottle thereon will be nroperlypositioned both vertically and diametrically to be capped by the capping head',- means tor efiecting a relative capping movement between the holder and the head, and automatic means tor locking the'holder in any of the positions to which it is moved.

With a capping head, of a rotary bottle holder provided with a plurality of bottle supports arranged at different distances radially from the center of rotation of the holder and at difi'erent vertical heights, and a centering member for each support.

5. In a capping machine the combination with a capping head, of a rotary bottle holder provided with a plurality of bottle supports arranged at different distances radially from the center of rotation of the holder and at diflerent vertical heights with respectto each other, a centering memberfor each support, and means forlocking the holder in position with any support beneath the capping head. I

6. In a capping machine the combination with a capping head, of a rotary bottle holder provided With a plurality of bottle supports arranged at different distances radially from the center of rotation of the holder and at difierent vertical heights with at. In a capping machine, the combination respect to each other, a centering member for each support, and means for automatically locking the holder in position with any support beneath the capping head.

In testimonv whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NORBERT M. LA PORTE. Witnesses:

C. R. RnrrnLBAoH, JEROME T. STACK. 

